Shared Decision‐Making: "My Life, My Decision"—Choosing the Best Kidney Stone Treatment for Me

The prevalence of kidney stones is on the rise, and concurrently, healthcare is shifting from a one-size-fits-all approach toward more personalised, patient-centered care. Shared decision-making (SDM) facilitates patient-centred care by encouraging patients to participate actively in the decision-making process. Research has shown that SDM enhances patient-clinician communication, increases patient satisfaction, and improves treatment outcomes. This collaborative approach involves patients and clinicians working together to make healthcare decisions by reviewing available options, discussing the benefits and potential risks, and considering the patient's values, preferences, and individual circumstances. Kidney stones can be managed through various treatment options, depending on factors such as stone size, number, metabolic profile, and location. The objective of this initiative was to implement and evaluate a patient decision aid to support SDM in the outpatient clinic, enabling patients to make informed choices regarding their kidney stone treatment. The patient decision aid was implemented using a four-stage problem-solving model aimed at process improvement: (1) Plan, (2) Do, (3) Study, and (4) Act. To assess the impact and effectiveness of the patient decision aid, separate questionnaires for patients and clinicians were used. This practice-development initiative occurred in the Urological Outpatient Clinic at Vejle Hospital, Denmark. The evaluation involved 5 medical doctors, 10 nurses, 20 kidney stone patients, and a development nurse. The patient decision aid was utilised in all consultations where patients and clinicians discussed kidney stone treatment options. Evaluation data indicate high levels of patient satisfaction, with many patients reporting a stronger sense of involvement in treatment decisions. Although some clinicians felt they already involved patients in treatment decisions, they noted that the decision aid promoted a more structured and effective form of communication. Additionally, the use of this decision aid was associated with time efficiencies in the clinic. The patient decision aid has proven to be an effective tool in enhancing personalised, patient-centered treatment. However, it is essential to maintain focus and reinforce the need for practice adaptation to achieve lasting change. For successful implementation of a patient decision aid, ongoing education, training, and practice in decision-making communication are critical to strengthen collaboration between patients and clinicians. “Abstract accepted for European Association of Urology Nurses Meeting March 2025”. Gitte Kissow (RN) Urological Research Center, Lillebaelt Hospital, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Vejle, Denmark, and Department of Regional Health Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark Louise Faurholt Øbro (PhD, MScN, RN) Urological Research Center, Lillebaelt Hospital, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Vejle, Denmark, and Department of Regional Health Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark Palle J.S. Osther (Professor, MD, PhD) Urological Research Center, Lillebaelt Hospital, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Vejle, Denmark, and Department of Regional Health Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.